What Is The Ice Hack Diet? (And Does It Work?)

06 Jul What Is The Ice Hack Diet? (And Does It Work?)

Posted at 17:36h in Diets by

Ntritionists tend to be quite sceptical when it comes to viral weight loss ‘hacks’ or ‘tricks’. We know that nothing can replace long-lasting healthy diet and lifestyle choices when it comes to achieving and sustaining your desired weight. That being said, there can be some truth behind some weight loss or diet trends, so let’s explore the latest one, shall we? Here, we discuss the truth about the ice hack diet. 

If you want to achieve and maintain your ideal weight, we can help. We are a team of qualified, experienced nutritionists who specialise in weight loss. Schedule your complimentary call today to find out how we can help you. 

WHAT’S THE ALPINE ICE HACK FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

The Alpine Ice Hack, also known as the Ice Hack Diet, is a weight loss trend that has gained popularity on social media platforms like TikTok. It involves exposing the body to cold temperatures, either by applying ice packs or consuming cold beverages and foods, with the claim that it can boost metabolism and promote fat burning.

The premise behind the diet is the concept of thermogenesis, which is the body’s process of generating heat to maintain its core temperature. Proponents of the Ice Hack Diet suggest that exposing the body to cold temperatures can stimulate brown adipose tissue (BAT), a type of fat that generates heat, thereby increasing metabolism and aiding in weight loss.

DOES THE ICE HACK WORK?

Some research suggests that mild cold exposure may increase energy expenditure and activate BAT, leading to a slight increase in calorie burning. However, the extent of this effect and its practical implications for weight loss remain unclear.

DOES DRINKING ICE WATER BURN CALORIES?

One of the claims associated with the Ice Hack Diet is that drinking ice water can help burn calories. While it is true that the body expends some energy to warm up cold beverages to body temperature, the calorie-burning effect is relatively small and unlikely to contribute significantly to weight loss. You could potentially expect to burn between four to seven calories by drinking a glass of ice water, roughly the same as walking up a flight of stairs. 

DOES EATING ICE BURN CALORIES?

Another claim made by proponents of the Ice Hack Diet is that eating ice can help burn calories. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. While the body may expend a small amount of energy to melt the ice, the calorie-burning effect is negligible and again, unlikely to contribute to significant weight loss.

ARE THERE ANY CONS?

The Ice Hack Diet may seem harmless enough, but there are potential drawbacks and risks associated with it:

Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures and ice intake can be uncomfortable.

Applying ice packs directly to the skin or consuming excessive amounts of ice can potentially cause frostbite or other cold-related injuries.

It’s highly likely to be ineffective strategy for sustainable weight loss. The Ice Hack Diet does not address the underlying lifestyle factors that contribute to weight gain, making it an unsustainable approach for long term weight management.

HOW DOES THIS DIFFER TO WIM HOF?

The Ice Hack Diet should not be confused with the Wim Hof Method, which is a breathing and cold exposure technique developed by Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof. While both involve exposure to cold temperatures, the Wim Hof Method is a more comprehensive approach that combines breathing exercises, cold exposure, and mindset training.

The Wim Hof Method is not primarily focused on weight loss but rather on improving overall health and wellbeing through the activation of the body’s natural stress response mechanisms. It has been studied for its potential benefits in areas such as immune function, inflammation, and mental health. 

In contrast, the Ice Hack Diet is solely focused on weight loss by increasing metabolism and fat burning due to cold exposure. However, as mentioned earlier, the scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of this approach for weight loss is limited.

WORK WITH US

We are a team of qualified nutritionists who specialise in weight loss. For many of the clients we work with, a more sophisticated strategy than following social media trends is required for lasting weight loss.

If you’re ready to overcome your weight challenges, achieve your goal weight and maintain it long term, we can help. You can use this link to book in for a complimentary call today. This is an opportunity to talk through your challenges with a member of our team and decide together whether one of our Intelligent Weight Loss programmes is right for you. Or contact us to request a copy of our brochure and we will get back to you soon.

Sign up for Kim’s weekly weight loss and wellness newsletter to receive the latest news, expert tips and advice direct to your inbox.

Print page
0 Likes


LINDA ROBINSON

Linda is our Practice Coordinator, helping to keep the clinic running smoothly.

 

Originally from Texas, Linda completed her MBA at SDA Bocconi in Milan. Linda has worked as a Strategy Consultant across multiple industries globally in cities including Kyoto, Paris, Chicago and San Francisco. She developed an interest in nutrition whilst volunteering for an organisation that provides cooking and nutrition education to children and families.

Linda is now settled in London with her husband, two children, and her very bouncy, sociable dog.

SARAH LAW

Sarah has worked with hundreds of clients over the past decade to help them live in a healthy body that they feel confident in.


Sarah spent a large part of her teens and 20’s as a professional dancer battling with orthorexia and an unhealthy relationship with food and her body. This created a desire to understand the human body more so she could finally cut through the confusion and end the cycle of yoyo dieting. This fuelled her passion to help other women do the same.

 

Sarah specialises in supporting women who are struggling to lose weight due to underlying health issues. She’s helped many women manage their weight during and after the menopause, as well as clients with thyroid disease and immune system dysfunction. Sarah loves food and sharing healthy recipes with her clients. Her aim is to ensure that clients don’t feel deprived and instead, achieve their weight loss and health goals in a positive and sustainable way.

 

To enquire about working with Sarah, please contact us.

AILSA HICHENS

 

Ailsa is one of our most experienced practitioners. She specialises in helping clients to lose weight, develop a healthy relationship with food and finally feel comfortable in their skin. Ailsa’s mission is for everyone she works with to enjoy the journey and that working with a nutritionist should not be a punishment, but your access to a new possibility.

 

Ailsa is not only an experienced weight loss nutritionist, she is also a skilled coach. She helps our clients overcome emotional eating, destructive habits and self-sabotaging behaviours that have prevented successful weight loss in the past. Ailsa has spent years in clinic working with clients who have experienced yo-yo dieting and have discovered that long term weight loss is not just about eating less until you can stand it no longer.

 

Working with Ailsa you will be comprehensively supported, not only in improving your nutrition and lifestyle, but also your eating habits and your relationship with food. When you work on all these elements together, the results can be truly astonishing.

 

To enquire about working with Ailsa, please contact us.

Test Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team of practitioners and heading up the day-to-day running of the business. Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, coming from a strong business background in town planning. A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 with her husband and two children.

NIKKI ANDRIANI

Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team and heading up the day-to-day running of our clinic.

 

Coming from a background in town planning, Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, continually ensuring we are delivering the very best service to our clients.


A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 where she lives with her husband, two children, and her rescue dog Skyy.

STÉPHANIE ACHAR

Stéphanie is a skilled nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner with additional training in eating disorders, disordered eating and obesity. She believes that working towards both physiological and mental health is key in achieving optimum wellbeing.

 

Stéphanie’s personal experience of emotional eating and the ongoing struggle to find the right support led her to combine the science of nutrition with behavioural coaching to motivate and empower her clients. She specialises in helping people who struggle with their weight and their relationship with food. She helps them develop a healthier and more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.

 

To enquire about working with Stéphanie, please contact us.

INNA WEARN

Inna is passionate about supporting women on their journey to improved health and wellbeing. She believes that the solution to effective weight loss does not lie in ever more restrictive diets, but a more sophisticated approach that optimises health and vitality, as well as promoting effective weight loss.

 

Working with Inna you will benefit from her in-depth knowledge of female health and hormones. She will support you in developing a healthy diet, lifestyle and mindset that ensures you reach your ideal weight and maintain it in the years to come.

 

Inna is passionate about food with a wide repertoire of delicious healthy recipes and meal ideas to ensure your weight loss journey is as enjoyable as possible!

 

To enquire about working with Inna, please contact us.

ANIA MASON

 

Ania is a firm believer that improving your health and losing weight should be a positive, empowering journey, not one centred around deprivation.

 

After being diagnosed with two autoimmune conditions in her twenties, Ania spent several years educating herself on the power of food and nutrition. She put it all into practise and changed her diet and lifestyle, reversing her endometriosis and thyroid disease. After experiencing such a significant improvement in her health, Ania had a big desire to help others. She embarked on a four year journey to study nutrition, graduating from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition with distinction.

 

Ania specialises in autoimmunity and works with clients who have underlying health issues preventing successful weight loss. Her expertise enables her to successfully support our clients with conditions such as hypothyroidsm (underactive thyroid), PCOS and diabetes. 

 

To enquire about working with Ania, please contact us.

Get weekly weight loss & wellness updates.

Subscribe and receive your free download:

 

7 STEPS TO INTELLIGENT WEIGHT LOSS